Gauging and marking device



March 1952 A. T. SHACK ET AL GAUGING AND MARKING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Sept. 7, 1950 liweniars:

M 2 f M m %5 M g rmfi W W W March 4, 1952 A. T. SHACK ET AL 2,587,774

GAUGING AND MARKING DEVICE Filed Sept. 7, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 4,1952 A, SHACK ET AL 2,587,774

GAUGING AND MARKING DEVICE Filed Sept. 7, 1950 Sheets-Sheet 3 PatentedMar. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE Zemberry, Pittsburgh, Pa,.,;-ass ignors to-;Un ited .StatcsSteel Company, acorporation ofv New JerseyApplication September 7, 1950, Serial-N0.'183,604

. 14 Claims. 1

.This: inventionrelates to improved devices-for gauging pipe wallthickness and for markingthe planeat which the end portionsof,pipe'lengths areto be cropped.

Whenpipe .is manufactured, the walls at the end portions of each lengthcommonly are of uneven thickness and it is necessary to crop each lengtha sufiicient distance from theend so that the-walls of the entire lengthmeet specified standards. .Ingsomer-instances itis necessary only thatthe pipe wall thickness be above a specified minimum, but in others itisnecessary as well that it be below a specified-maximum. In previ---ous practice with which we aretamiliar, pipe walls are gauged manuallyto determine how much to crop ofi each-length, and after they arecropped-it has been necessary to recheck the .thickness and often tocropoif afurther portion.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved gauging andmarking devices vwhich .automatically gauge a pipe length and mark theplaneclosest to the end-where thewalls are of acceptable thicknessthroughout the circumference, so that .thepipecan be cropped at thisplane.

,A further .object-of the invention is to provide .an' improved gaugingand marking device, the

an improved gauging and marking device. .the :gauging means of which,after it finds a plane where the wall thickness appears acceptable butthe thickness is not'acceptable throughout the circumference,automatically resumes its longitudinaltraversal of the pipe wall untilit'finds another; plane where the wall thickness appears acceptable,andwhich then automatically repeats its: circumferential traversal andmarking of the pipe.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved gaugingdevice which automatically discharges rpipe lengths, either unmarked or.marked through only a part oftheir circumference, when there isnoiplaneof acceptable wall thickness withinthe limits of the device.

In accomplishing theseandotherobjects of the inventiomwe have providedimproveddetails of structure, preferred forms of whicharesh'own'in theaccompanyingzdrawings, inawh-ich:

:Eigure 1 is ;-a side elevational view, partly in section ;of;';agauging-and marking device which embodies features of the; presentinvention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken v5 1bstant-ially ,on lineIIII of Figure 1;

Figure 3 -,is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modification; and

vFigure 4 isa wiring diagram of a preferred electric circuit foroperating the device.

Thegauging and marking .device of -the .present invention is mounted ona suitable support structure which conveniently can be inthe form oftable. sections l and 1012. Table section [Ocarries arreversibleconveying motor l2, aconveyor roll l3, anormallyretracted solenoidoperated brake I i, a guide I5 and an operating switch IS. A pipe lengthP whose end portion is to be gauged andmarked for cropping, is.introduced to the device on conveyor roll l3 and it engages theoperating switch I 6 and starts conveyor motor l2. This motor now drivesthe conveyor roll in its'forward-direction and feeds, the pipe lengththrough guide {toward the gauging head hereinafter described. When thesolenoid of brake I4 is energized, the brake clamps the pipe in a fixedposition, but otherwise the brake is retracted and free of the pipe.

.Table section Illa carries bearings I I which --rotatably support atubular .drive shaftil8. The end of-driveshaft 18 carries agauging headIS. The device has a: drive motor 20 which rotates the drive shaftviaaspeed reducing .gearingl l, an upright shaftZZ and abevelpinionandg'ear 23.

-Gauging head l9 has a plurality of thickness gauges 24, preferablythree in number, pivoted to its outer faceand uniformly spaced thereon.It is apparent. that various known types of thickness gauges could beemployed, such as electronic ,gauges; magnetic-gauges, supersonic gaugesor :electri'cgauges, ,but the form we have chosen. for illustrationoperates mechanically. Each gauge .24 includes a bell crank which has, agauge arm extending approximately perpendicular to the -gauging'; headv,and .a.-radially extending arm- 26.

The outer end of each, arm. 25 carriesa dial21 whichgon its face has acontact segment 28 and a contact hand 29. Agauge .arm 30 ispivoted .toeach bell crankiand extends in approximately the-same direction asgauge, arm .25 of thebell crank. Asspring 25a normallylbiases the gauge29, so that relative movement of the two gauge arms in accordance withvariations in wall thickness moves the hand. Contact segment 28 and thehand are adjusted relatively so that the hand contacts the segmentwhenever the wall thicknoids of these markers are energized, theyproject 1 the marker tips into contact with the pipe wall, but otherwisethe markers clear the wall.

As the conveyor IOll l3 feeds the pipe length into gauges 24, the gaugestraverse the pipe wall longitudinally and all three gaugessimultaneously may find points on the pipe where the wall thicknessappears acceptable. When they find such points, they move their contacthands 23 into contact with their respective segments 28. As hereinafterexplained, these hands and segments are electrically connected in seriesand they energize a circuit which stops motor 12, applies brake I4 tothe pipe, projects markers 34 and starts drive motor 20. This lattermotor rotates the drive shaft 16 and the gauging head l9, and thus thegauges traverse the pipe wall circumferentially.

' If the pipe wall thickness is acceptable throughout the pipecircumference, hands 29 all remain in contact with their segments 28throughout rotation of the gauging head. The gauging head automaticallystops after the gauges have traversed the entire pipe circumference, inthis instance, after rotating approximately 120. Markers 34 thus place acompletely encircling mark on the pipe wall. When the gauging headstops, the circuit retracts the markers, releases brake I4 and drivesthe conveyor motor l2 and conveyor jroll l3 in the reverse direction towithdraw the pipe. marked for cropping. In describing the electriccircuit we refer to this condition as Case A.

As the gauging head rotates, one or more of the gauges 24 may findplaces where the pipe wall thickness is unacceptable. One or more of thehands 29 then ride oil their respective segments 28 and break thecircuit. The gauging head then stops, markers 34 are retracted, brake l4is released and conveyor motor l2 again is driven in its forwarddirection to feed the pipe length farther into the device. Gauges 24t.-us resume their longitudinal traversal of the pipe wall; If the.three gauges again find a place where the wall thickness appearsacceptable, the circumferential traverse just described .is repeated;that is, the circuit again applies the brake, projects the markers androtates the gauging head. If this time the thickness is acceptablethroughout the circumference, the conveyor withdraws "the pipe as beforemarked for cropping. The incomplete marks of course are disregarded.This sequence of stopping the gauging head, resuming the longitudinaltraversal, and again rotating the gauging head can be repeated anynumber of times until the pipe feeds .into gauges 24 to the limit of thedevice. In describing the circuit we refer to this condition as "ofdrive shaft l8. If the gauges 24 never find a switch 16.

plane on the pipe where the wall thickness is acceptable, the pipe endultimately abuts this plunger. The spindle of said plunger controls areversing switch 3!, hereinafter described, which completes a circuit tomotor l2 for driving it in its reverse direction and thus withdrawingthe pipe. Such a pipe length either is not marked at all or else themarks are incomplete, and it immediately can be recognized as one whosewall thickness is not acceptable for the distance which the gaugingdevice covers. In describing the circuit, we refer to this condition ascase C.

Figure 3 illustrates a modification in which the gauge arms are equippedwith means for keeping rollers 3| out of contact with the pipe wall whenthe extreme end portion of the pipe is between theserollers. Such meansare desirable since the gauge mechanism necessarily is delicate and thepipe ends often have major irregularities which could cause damage. Thetwo gauge arms are biased to a normally spread position. Gauge arm 30carries a pivoted lever 38 and a fixed stop 39. A spring 40 normallyholds said lever in engagement with said stop. A double armaturesolenoid 4| connects the two gauge arms, and when energized pulls themtogether into engagement with the pipe wall. Arm 30 carries a contactpoint 42. When the pipe end is within the space between the two gaugearms, it clears rollers 3| on both arms until it contacts the inner endof lever 38. This lever then pivots against contact point 42 andcompletes a circuit to solenoid 4|, whereupon the solenoid draws thearms together. The operation is the same when the conveyor iswithdrawing the pipe.

Figure 4 shows in detail a preferred electric circuit for operating thedevice. The circuit includes four relays L,'S, J and R and two timerrelays Tl and T2. Relay L has two normally closed sets of contacts 43and 44 and four normally open sets of contacts 45, 46, 41 and 48. RelayS has three sets of normally closed contacts 49, 50 and 5| and threesets of normally open contacts 52, 53 and 54. Relay J has one set ofnormally open contacts 55. Relay R has one set of normally closedcontacts 56 and one set of normally open contacts 51. Timer relay T1 hasone set of normally closed contacts 58 and timer relay T2 one set ofnormally open contacts 59. Lines 60 and 6| connect the circuit tooutside power lines A and B through a disconnect switch 62.

Line 60 is connected to one side of the operating A conductor 63connects the other side of this switch to one contact of the normallyclosed set 5| of. relay S. A conductor 64 connects the other contact ofset 5| with one side of conveyor motor I2. A conductor 65 connects theother side of said conveyor motor with one contact of the normallyclosed set 56 of relay S. A conductor 66 connects the other contact ofset 56 with one contact of the normally closed set 56 'of-relay R. Aconductor 61 connects the other 1 feed the pipe toward the gauging headH3. The

current path is from line 66, through switch. I6, conductor 63, contacts5|, conductor 64, motor l2, conductor 65, contacts 50, conductor 66,contacts 56, conductor 61, contacts 44, and conductor 68 toline 6|.

As already stated, the contact segments 28 and -58 of timer relay T1.

markers.

hands 29 are electrically connected in series. A

conductor 69 connects the series of segments and hands to line BI and aconductor inconnectstheseries of segments and hands to one end of thecoil of'relay L. Aconductor H connects the other "end of-the coilof-relay L with one contact of the normally closed set 49 of relay S. Aconductor 12 connects the other contact of set-49 with a conductor '73which is connected to line 60. When the three gauges 24 find a plane inthe'pipe wallwhere the thickness appears acceptable,-and their hands 29all contact their respective segments 28, the'circuit energizes relay L.The current path is fromline-B'I,

throughconductor 69, the series of's'egments 28 and hands 29, conductor10, the'relay'coil, con- "ductor H, contacts 49,-and conductors l2 and13 to line 60.

A conductor I4 connects one contact-of the "one'contact of the normallyopenset 46 'of'relay L with one end of the'coilof "timer relay T1. -Aconductor 89 connects the otherend' of said timer relay coil withconductor 13 and line60. A conductor 8| connects one contact of thenormally open set 41 of relay L with one end of the coil of timer relayT2. A conductor 82 connects the other end of said latter timer relaycoil with conductor 13 and line 69. A conductor 83 connects one contactof the normally open set 48 of relay L with one end of the coil of relayJ. A conductor 84 connects the other end of the coil of relay J with onecontact of 'the'normally closedset A conductor 85 connects the othercontactof set 58 with conductor 13 and line 60.

Closing of disconnect switch 62 energizes lamp 15 and thus indicatesthat the device is ready to'function. The current path is from line 6|,through conductor 68, contacts 43, conductor [4, lamp I5, and conductorsI6 and 13 to line '69. Subsequent energizing of relay L opens itsnormally closed contacts 43 and thus extinguishes the lamp, which 'nowindicates that the three gauges have found pipe 'wall of acceptablethickness and they are about to commence their circumferential traversalof the pipe wall.

Energizing of relay L also opens its normally closed contacts-44, whichbreaks the circuit to conveyor motor I2 and thus stops this motor andconveyor roll 13. Preferabl this motor has a brake for stopping it themomentthe circuit is broken, as known in the art. Energizing relay Lalso closes its normally open contacts"45, '46, 4'! and 48. Closing ofcontacts 45 energizes the solenoids of brake l4 and markers 34 and. thusapplies the brake to'the pipe and projec'ts'the The current path is fromline 6|, through conductor 68, contacts 45, conductor'll, the solenoids,and conductors 18 and 13 to line 60. Closing of contacts 46'energizestimer relay T1. The current path is from line 6| through conductor 68,contacts '45, conductor 19, the timer relay coil, and conductors 80 and13 'to Closing of contacts 41 ener'gizestimer relay T2. The current pathisffrom li'ne 6|,

., with line 6|.

through conductor 68, contacts 47, conductor 8|, the timer relay c011,and conductors 82 and" t0 line 60. *When the timer relays are'energized, bothcommence timing. -After'a predetermined intervaltimerrelay'Ti times out and opens its "normally closed-contacts '58 andafter a prede-- termined longer interval timer T2'times out and closesits normally-open contacts 59. Closing of contacts-48 of relay Lenergizes relay J. The currentpath is from line 6| through conductor 68,contacts 48, conductor '83,- the relay coil; conductor 84, contacts 58,and -conductors-85 and '13 to line 69.

A conductor 86 connects line 6| with one contact of the'normally'openset 55 *of'relay J A conductor 81 connects the other contact-of set 55with one side of drive motor 20. A conductor 88 connects the "other sideof drive motor 20 *with conductor 13 and line 69. When relay J is ener-'gized'and its contacts close, drive motor 20 commences to rotate. Thecurrent path is from line 6 I through conductor '86, contacts 55,conductor '81,'the motor,'and conductors 88 and 13, to line 60. Themotor rotates thegauging had l9, and

cuit to the coil of relayzJ. Thereupon contacts 55 of relay J openandbreak the circuit to motor 20. Subsequently timer T2 times out andcomv.pletes a circuit for withdrawing the pipe from the device, ashereinafter explained.

-When case B applies, one ormore of the hands -29 rides off itssegment-2B and breaks the circuit to the coil of relay L. The contactsof this relay thereupon return to their normal position. Lamp 75 ienergized; brake I4 is released; markers 34 are retracted; conveyormotor l2 again starts moving in its forward direction; and timer relaysT1 and T2 are de-energ ized. 'The conveyor continues to feed thepipetoward the gauging head until the three gauges again find acceptablepipe wall, whereupon relay L again is energized and the sequence ofsteps previously described is repeated. When timer relays T1 and T2 arethus interrupted, they time for their full interval on again beingenergized. If the three gauges do not again findacceptable wall, the endof the pipe ultimately abuts plunger 36 and the ..pipe is removed, a incase C hereinafter-described.

Relay S controls reversals of the conveyor motor l2. A conductor 89connects one'end of the coil of this relay with one side of operatingswitch I 6. A conductor 99 connects the other end of this relay coilwith one contact of the normally open set 59 of timer relay T2. Aconductor 9| connects the other contact of set 59 I A conductor 92connects conductor 63 with one contact of the normally open set 52 ofrelay S. A conductor 93 connects the other contact of set '52 withconductor 65. A conductor 94 connects conductor 64 with one contact ofthe normally open set 53 of relay S. A conductor 95 connects the othercontact of set 53 with one contact of the normally open set 54 of relayS and thence with line 6|. A conductor 96 connects the other contact ofset 54 with one contact of the normally open set 5'! of relay R. Aconductor 97 connects this same contact of set 51 with conductor 99. Theen'd of line 6| is connected to-the other contact of set 51.

,L are now open.

I When tlmerrelay T2 timesout and its contacts 59 close, it energizesrelay S. The current path is from line 69, through operating switch 16,conductor 89, the relay coil, conductor 99, contact 59 and conductor 9|,to line Bl. Thereupon its contacts 49, 59 and 51 open and its contacts52, 53 and 54 close. Closing of contacts 54 seals in the relay. Thecurrent path is now from line 60, through operating switch l6, conductor89, the relay coil, conductors 99, SH and 96, contacts 54 and conductor95, to line 6|. Opening of contacts 49 breaks the circuit relay coil L,whereupon the contacts of relay L return to their normal position,breaking the circuits to the solenoids of brake l4 and markers 34, andto the coils of timer relays T1 and T2. The contacts 58 of timer T1return to their normally closed positiornbut do not energize relay Jsince the contacts 48 of relay The contacts 59 of timer relay T2 returnto their normally open position, but do .not de-energize relay S, sincethis relay has sealed in. Opening of contacts 59 and 5| of relay S andclosing of it contacts 52 and 53, starts conveyor motor 12 but in thereverse direction The current path is from line 99, through operatingswitch I6, conductors 63 and 92, contacts 52, conductors 93 and 65, themotor, conductors 64 and 94, contacts 53 and conductor 95, to line 6!.Motor I2 rotates conveyor roll it and withdraws pipe P from the deviceuntil the pipe clears operating switch I6, whereupon this switch opensand de-energizes relay S, which returns to its normal position and thusbreaks the motor circuit.

The reversing switch 31 and relay R operate relay S and establish acircuit for withdrawing the pipe when the gauges 24 never find a planeof acceptable wall thickness (case C). A conductor 98 connects conductor91 with one end of the coil of relay R. A conductor 99 connects theother end of this coil with one side of the reversing switch 31. Theconductor 13 is connected to the other side of this switch. When a pipeend abut plunger 36 and closes this switch, relay R is energized. Thecurrent path is from line 6|, through conductors 9i and 98,'the relaycoil, conductor 99, switch 31, conductor ":3 to line 60. Thereupon thenormally closed contacts 55 open and the normally open contacts 5?close.

, Closing of contacts 5! energizes relay S. The

current path is from line 69 through the operating switch l6, conductor89, the relay coil, conductors 99 and 91, and contacts 51, to line 6|.The action of relay S in reversing the circuit to the conveyor motor isthe same as already described. Opening of contacts 56 breaks the forwardcircuit to motor I2. It is seen that energizing relay S opens itscontacts 59 and ultimately would break this same circuit, but it ispreferable to stop the conveyor motor sooner than the time required forboth relays to act.

From the foregoing description it is seen that the gauging and markingdevice of the present invention is of simple mechanical construction andit automatically marks the plane closest to the end of a pipe lengthwhere the walls are of acceptable thickness. Pipe lengths dischargedfrom the apparatus bear completely encircling marks at the proper planefor cropping, and, when they bear no such mark, they can easily berecognized a having no plane of acceptable wall 7 thickness within thelimits of the device.

While we have shown and described only certain preferred embodiments ofthe invention, it is apparent that modifications may arise. There- Iore,we do not wish to be limited to the dis- '8 closure set forth but onlyby the scope of the-appended claims.

We claim:

1. A device for gauging the thickness of pipe walls and marking a planefor cropping comprising gauge means, means for relatively feeding andwithdrawing a pipe length toward and from said gauge means, said gaugemeans bein adapted to traverse the pipe wall longitudinally while thepipe feeds relatively theretoward, means for relatively rotating saidgauge means around the pipe, said gauge means being adapted to traversethe pipe wall circumferentially as it retates relatively therearound,and means for marking the plane at which said gauge means traverses thepipe wall circumferentially.

2. A device for gauging the thickness of pipe walls and marking a planefor cropping comprising rotatably mounted gauge means, a con veyor forfeeding and withdrawing a pipe length toward and from said gauge means,said gauge means being adapted to traverse the pipe wall longitudinallywhile said conveyor feeds the pipe theretoward, means for rotating saidgauge means around the pipe, said gauge means being adapted to traversethe pipe wall circumferentially as it rotates therearound, and means formarking the plane at which said gauge means traverses the pipe wallcircumferentially.

3. A device for gauging the thickness of pipe walls and marking a planefor cropping comprising gauge means, means for relatively feeding andwithdrawing a pipe length toward and from said gauge means, said gaugemeans being adapted to traverse the pipe wall longitudinally while thepipe feeds relatively theretoward, means stopping relative feeding ofthe pipe when said gauge means finds a plane where the wall thicknessappears acceptable, means for relatively rotating said gauge meansaround the pipe when the relative feeding stops, said gauge means beingadapted to traverse the pipe wall circumferentially as it rotatesrelatively therearound, and means for marking the plane at which saidgauge means traverses the pipe wall circumferentially.

4. A device for gauging the thickness of pipe walls and marking a planefor cropping comprising rotatably mounted gauge means, a conveyor forfeeding and withdrawing pipe lengths toward and from said gauge means,said gauge means being adapted to traverse the pipe wall longitudinallywhile said conveyor feeds the pipe theretoward, a brake adapted to holdthe pipe, means for stopping said conveyor and applying said brake whensaid gauging means finds a plane where the wall thickness appearsacceptable,

means for rotating said gauge means around the pipe when said conveyorstops, said gauge means being adapted to traverse the pipe wallcircumferentially as it rotates therearound, and means for marking theplane at which said gauge means traverses the pipe wallcircumferentially.

5. A device for gauging the thickness of pipe walls and marking a planefor cropping comprising a rotatably mounted gauging head, a plurality ofthickness gauges mounted on said gauging head, a conveyor for feedingand withdrawing pipe lengths toward and from said gauges, said gaugesbeing adapted to traverse the pipe wall longitudinally while saidconveyor feeds the pipe theretoward, a brake adapted to hold the pipe,means for stopping said conveyor and,applying said brake when saidgauges find a plane where the wall thickness appears acceptable,'meansfor rotating said gauging head when said conveyor ps he by roiatinesaideau e areund th which said gauges traverse the ,pipe :wallcircumferentially.

' 6. A device for gauging the thickness of pipe walls and marking aplane for cropping comprising gauge means, means forrelatively feedingand withdrawing a pipe length toward andfrom said gauge means said gaugemeans, being adapted to traverse the pipe wall longitudinally while thepipe feeds relatively thereto, means stoppingrelative feeding of thepipe when said gauge means finds a plane where the "wall thic-k-nessappears acceptable, means for relatively rotating :said gauge meansaround thepip whentherelative feeding stops, said gauge means beingadapted to traverse the :pipe wall circumferentially asit rotatesrelatively therearounmmeansfor marking the plane at which said gauge:means traverses the pipe wall circumferentially, and meansfor operatingsaid relative feedingand withdrawing means to withdraw the pipe, whensaid gaugin means completes its circumferential traversal .of the pipewall or when the pipe feeds relatively to the limit of the device. 1

7. A device for gauging the thickness-of pipe walls and marking 'a planefor cropping comprisinga rotatably mounted gauging head, a plurality ofthickness gauges mounted on said gauging head, a conveyor for feedingand withdraw-.- ing pipe lengths toward and from .saidgauses, saidgauges being adapted to transverse the pipe wall longitudinally while,said conveyor feeds-the pipe theretoward, a normally retracted brakeadapted to hold the pipe-when applied thereto, meansfor-stopping-said-conveyor and applying said bra e when said gauges finda plane where the wall thickness appears acceptable, means for rotatingsaid gauging head when said conveyor stops and thereby rotating saidgauges around the pipe, said gauges being adapted to traverse the pipewall circumferentially as they rotate therearound, means for marking theplane at which said gauges traverse the pipe circumferentially, andmeans for operating said conveyor to withdraw the pipe when said gaugescomplete their circumferential traversal of the pipe wall or when theconveyor feeds the pipe to the limit of the device.

8. A device for gauging the thickness of pipe walls and marking a planefor cropping comprising gauge means, means for relatively feeding andwithdrawing a pipe length toward and from said gauge means, said gaugemeans being adapted to traverse the pipe wall longitudinally while thepipe feeds relatively theretoward, means stopping relative feeding ofthe pipe when said gauge means finds a .plane where the wall thicknessappears acceptable, a plurality of normally retracted markers carried bysaid gauge means, and means for projecting said markers into contactwith the pipe wall and for relatively rotating said gauge means andmarkers around the pipe when the relative feeding stops, said gaugemeans being adapted to traverse the pipe wall circumferentially and saidmarkers to mark the plane thereof as they rotate relative to the pipe.

9. A device for gauging the thickness of pipe walls and marking a planefor cropping comprising a rotatably mounted gauging head, a plurality ofthickness gauges and a plurality of normally retracted markers mountedon said gauging head, aconveyor for feeding and withdrawing pipe lengthstoward andfrom said gauges, said gauges being adapted to traverse thepipe wall longitudinally while said conveyor feeds the pipe theretoward,a normally retracted brake adapted to hold the pipe when appliedthereto, means for stopping said conveyor, applying said brake andprojecting said markers into contact with the pipe wall when said gaugesfind .a plane where the wall thickness appears acceptable, and means.for rotating said gauging head when said conveyor stops and therebyrotating said gauges and markers around the pipe, said gaugesbeingadapted to traverse the pipe wall circumferentially and saidmarkers ,tomark the planethereof as they rotate around .thepipe.

10. A device for gauging the thickness of pip walls and marking a planefor cropping comprising a rotatably mounted gauging head, a plurality ofthickness gauges and :a plurality of normally retracted markers mountedon said uging head, a conveyor for feeding and withdrawing pipe lengthstoward and from said gauges, said gauges being adapted to traverse thepipe wall longitudinally while said conveyor feeds the pipe theretoward,a normally retracted brake adapted to hold the pipe when appliedthereto, means for stopping said conveyor, applying said brake andprojecting said markers into contact with the pipe wall when said gaugesfind a plane where the wall thickness appears acceptable, means forrotating said gauging headwhen said conveyor stops and thereby rotatingsaid gauges and markers around the pipe, said gauges'being adapted totraverse the pipe'wall circumferen- 'tially and said markers'to mark theplane thereof as they rotate around the pipe, andmeans for automaticallyoperating said conveyor to withdraw the pine when said gauges completetheir circumferential traversal of the pipe wall or when the COIlVeyOIfeeds the pipe to the limit of the device.

11. A device for gauging the thickness of pipe walls and marking a planefor cropping comprising a rotatably mounted gauging head, a plurality ofthickness gauges mounted on said gauging head each of which includes apair of gauge arms having means on their extremities adapted to contactthe inner and outer surfaces of a pipe wall, a conveyor for feeding andwithdrawing pipe lengths toward and from said gauges, said gauges beingadapted to traverse the pipe wall longitudinally while said conveyorfeeds the pipe theretoward, a normally retracter brake adapted to holdthe pipe when applied thereto, means for rotating said gauging head, anelectric circuit which is completed when said gauges find a plane wherethe wall thickness appears acceptable, means in said circuit for stopingsaid conveyor, applying said brake and starting rotation of said gauginghead when the circuit is completed, said gauges being adapted totraverse the pipe wall circumferentially on rotation of said gauginghead, and means for marking the plane at which said gauges traverse thepipe wall circumferentially.

12. A device for gauging the thickness of pipe walls and marking a planefor cropping comprising a rotatably mounted gauging head, a plurality ofthickness gauges mounted on said gauging head each of which includes apair of gauge arms having means on their extremities adapted to contactthe inner and outer surfaces of a pipe wall, means for holding saidgauge arms out of contact with the pipe walls when the extreme new;

1 1 ends of the pipe pass their contact means, a conveyor for feedingand withdrawing pipe lengths toward and from said gauges, said gaugesbeing adapted to traverse the pipe wall longitudinally while saidconveyor feeds the pipe theretoward, a normally retracted brake adaptedto hold the pipe when applied thereto, means for rotating said gauginghead, an electric circuit which is completed when said gauges find aplane where the wall thickness appears acceptable, means in said circuitfor stopping said conveyor, applying said brake and starting rotation ofsaid gauging head when the circuit is completed, said gauges beingadapted to traverse the pipe wall circumferentially on rotation of saidgauging head, and means for marking the plane at which said gaugestraverse the wall circumferentially.

13. A device for gauging the thickness of pipe walls and marking a planefor cropping comprising a rotatably mounted gauging head, a plurality ofthickness gauges mounted on said gauging head each of which includes apair. of gauge arms having means in the same plane on their extremitiesadaptedto contact the inner and outer surfaces of a pipe wall, apluralityoi normally retracted markers mounted on said gauging headintermediate said gauges and having tips in the same plane as thecontact means on said gauge arms, a conveyor for feeding and withdrawingpipe lengths toward and from said gauges, said gauges being adapted totraverse the pipe wall longitudinally while said conveyor feeds the pipetheretoward, a normally retracted brake adapted to hold the pipe whenapplied thereto, means for stopping said conveyor, applying said brake,and projecting said markers so that their tips contact the pipe wallwhen said gauges find a plane where the wall thickness appearsacceptable, and means for rotating said gauging head when said conveyorstops and thereby rotating 12 said gauges and markers around the pipe,said gauges being adapted to traverse the pipe circumferentially andsaid markers to mark the plane of contact as they rotate around thepipe.

14. A device for gauging the thickness of pipe walls and marking a,plane for cropping comprising a rotatably mounted gauging head, aplurality of thickness gauges mounted on said gauging head each of whichincludes a pair of gauge arms having means in the same plane on theirextremities adapted to contact the inner and outer surfaces of a pipewall, a plurality of normally retracted markers mounted on said gauginghead intermediate said gauges and having tips in the same plane as thecontact means on said gauge arms, a conveyor for feeding and withdrawingpipe lengths toward and from said gauges, said gauges being adapted totraverse the pipe wall longitudinally while said conveyor feeds the pipetheretoward, a normally retracted brake adapted to hold the pipe whenapplied thereto, means for rotating said gauging head, an electriccircuit which is completed when said gauges find a plane where the wallthickness appears acceptable, means in said circuit forstopping saidconveyor, applying said brake, projecting said markers and startingrotation of said gauging head when the circuit is completed, said gaugesbeing adapted to traverse the pipe wall circumferentially and saidmarkers to mark the plane of contact on rotation of said gauging head,and

means in said circuit for automatically operating said conveyor towithdraw the pipe when said gauges complete their circumferentialtraversal of the pipe wall or when the conveyor feeds the pipe to thelimit of the device.

ANDREW T. SHACK. WILLIAM L. ZEMBERRY.

No references cited.

